Installing software on thumb drives

chabsey

Seeing as most thumb drives in XP are seen as extra hard drives, would it be possible to install software on them?

For example, say you're installing software package 'A' on your PC, normally you'd choose the C: drive to install on to. It then gets written to C: in whatever directory and things get added to the registry and the Windows directory etc. Would it possible, once the thumb drive is in, to install to drive X: (or whatever your thumb drive appears as)? Therefore, once you remove the thumb drive, the software in question becomes totally useless and once you put the thumb drive back in you can use the software again.

Sound possible?

NotMe

What's a thumb drive? If it's a usb drive then yes.

Chalk

yep ,
but on a lot of programs you cant bring it from pc to pc as the registry entries etc wont be there.
some progs you can just copy the install folder out,
mirc, some dv rippers, it all depends on the program,
ms office probably wouldnt be portable for example

also if you google around a bit theres a guide on installing a portable firefox on to one,
incl bookmarks, skins and extensions.

Sherifu

possible:yes
messy:yes
advisable for important progs:no

Anything that doesnt rely on the registry too heavily will be fine, but i could see it gettin messy esp if drive gets named different letters and such if youve more than one. Ive never tried it tho so..............

chabsey

Excellent. Was interested in it as an idea of totally disabling certain software when I'm not using the PC. Shortcuts would remain on the desktop but the software could never actually be used. I might give it a go. Thanks.

Zascar

You can install Firefox on a USB drive, even with extentions!
http://portablefirefox.mozdev.org/

pickarooney

It's like the world of dongles opening up again.